If you are thinking of taking a long combined tour of Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan together, then you need to plan carefully to allow enough days of travel for each destination. For everyone, how long you need to travel for depends on where you want to go and what you want to see whilst traveling. In Tibet and Nepal, you can regulate the time you spend in each destination based on the things you want to see, and whether or not you are planning to travel long distances. In Bhutan, you need to consider which parts of the country you want to visit and why, as there are different periods required depending on where you are going.
You also need to consider other things, such as your budget and the time of year in which you want to travel. Some places are not easy to get to at certain times of the year. In general, if you are planning a shorter tour of the three destinations, then around 11 days is enough, to give you the basics of the three locations. However, if you are thinking of exploring more deeply into Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan, then you are going to need to spend a lot longer in each destination to get the best of them.
13 Days to Tour the Essence of Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan
A slightly longer tour of Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan is really needed to get the true essence of these three ancient Himalayan destinations. Taking your time a little more means you can delve a little deeper into the unique cultures of the Himalayan destinations on this extended tour. A 13-day tour can give you all you need in Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan, starting in Lhasa with your arrival in the Tibetan capital.
After spending a couple of days in Lhasa enjoying the sights of the Potala Palace and the Jokhang Temple, you depart the city to head overland to Nepal. Passing through Gyantse and Shigatse, and stopping briefly at the famous Everest Base Camp, you finally reach the Sino-Nepal border and cross, taking a car down to the Kathmandu Valley and Nepal’s exotic capital.
Enjoying the sights of the Potala Palace.
Here, you can spend a couple of days experiencing the stunning sights of the Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath Stupa, Swayambhunath, and the other amazing sights of the valley, before heading for the Tribhuvan International Airport for your flight to Paro.
On your arrival in Bhutan, you will first get to do some sightseeing and visit the Paro Rinpung Dzong, before being driven to Thimphu to explore the Bhutanese capital, the largest city in the kingdom. Tour around the Tashichho Dzong, the National Library, and the Folk Museum, and experience the traditional arts and crafts of this ancient kingdom. Then it is back to Paro to spend a day taking the amazing trek up to the Taktshang Monastery, also known as the Tiger’s Nest.
Trek up to the Tiger’s Nest Monastery.
17 Days to Visit More Cultural Highlights of Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan
A longer tour of around 17 days, is required for those that are looking to get a little more insight into the cultures and religions of these amazing Himalayan destinations. Lying deep in the world’s highest mountain range, there is much to discover in Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan, and a longer tour can help you see a little more, especially when it comes to exploring the unique mysteries of Bhutan.
For this kind of tour, you will start in Nepal and explore the amazing sights of the Kathmandu Valley, from the Kathmandu Durbar Square and the Swayambhunath Pagoda to the beauty of Bhaktapur and Patan. The Kathmandu Valley is renowned as the “real” Nepal, and was the original homeland of the Newari people of Nepal, the largest ethnic group in the country. Filled with a plethora of Hindu temples and Buddhist shrines, as well as being one of the most unique areas of the country when it comes to the dominant Hindu religious culture of Nepal, this unique part of Nepal is the heart of the local culture and the main destination for pilgrimage in Nepal.
Explore the amazing sights of the Kathmandu Valley.
From Kathmandu, you will drive up to the border between Nepal and China, and cross over into Tibet, driving overland to reach the Tibetan capital. An intense way to experience the beauty of the plateau and the unique Tibetan culture, this epic overland journey takes you to the world’s highest mountain at the Everest Base Camp, the highest tourist attraction in Tibet. Your journey across the plateau also gives you chance to explore the famous Tashilhunpo Monastery, the large monastery that is the seat of the Panchen Lama in Shigatse, as well as the Gyantse Kumbum, located in the unique Pelkor Chode Monastery. Then in the capital you will get chance to visit the ancient sites of the Jokhang Temple and the Potala Palace, as well as exploring the monasteries at Sera and Drepung, two of the most important Gelug tradition temples in Tibet.
Visit the famous Tashilhunpo Monastery.
After your tour across the vast Tibetan plateau to the City of Sunshine, you will fly back to Kathmandu and take a flight to Paro for the Bhutanese leg of your tour. O your arrival, you will get to explore two of the most amazing temples in Paro; the Kyichu Lhakhang and the Paro Rinpung Dzong. Both are filled with history and traditions, and are two of the most popular places to visit in Paro. Then you can head off to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, to explore the awesome sights, including the National Library, the Folk Heritage Museum, the Tashichho Dzong, and the Memorial Chorten. Then you will head off to the east towards Punakha, crossing the high Dochula Pass along the way.
After visiting the famous and beautiful Punakha Dzong, the most beautiful Dzong in Bhutan, you will also have time to travel to one of the most outstanding cultural and religious sites in the kingdom, the Gangtey Monastery. Lying in the enchanting Phobjikha Valley, it is the biggest Nyingmapa temple in the country. On your arrival back in Paro, you will have time to visit the ancient Drukgyel Dzong, and take the trek up to the heights of the Taktshang Monastery. Lying more than 900 meters above Paro, perched precariously on a narrow ledge on the cliff face, the Tiger’s Nest, as it is also known, sits on the site where it is said Padmasambhava landed after flying from Tibet on a tigress. Few places in the world are as astounding as this high temple on its precarious ledge.
Punakha Dzong is the most beautiful Dzong in Bhutan.
25 Days to Deeply Explore the Beauty of Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan
If you really want to explore more of the beauty of Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan together, then you will need to be looking at a tour that covers around 25 days. This longer period not only allows you to explore the overland journey across Tibet and the stunning areas of Paro, Thimphu, and Punakha in Bhutan, but you can also spend more time exploring some of the more outlying areas of Nepal.
This longer extension tour of the three stupendous destinations allows you to escape the Kathmandu Valley and get out into the hinterlands of Nepal, where the people are more rurally inclined and where you can find some stunning places to visit.
One of the amazing destinations you can travel to with more time is the awesome Chitwan National Nature Preserve, which lies to the southwest of Kathmandu close by the southern border of Nepal with India. Here, you can explore the beauty of the lowland Terai region of Nepal, with its plains and dense jungles, and enjoy an elephant safari through the jungles. On this amazing adventure, you have the chance to see plenty of wild animals, including Bengal Tigers, one-horned rhinos, and freshwater crocodiles. You can also try your hand at some of the adventure sports in the area, including kayaking and jungle walks.
Explore Chitwan National Nature Preserve.
You will also have time to travel a little further, to the small community at Lumbini, in southern Nepal. Lumbini is renowned around the world as the believed birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, who later renounced his royal heritage to eventually rise as the Lord Buddha. The site not only has a temple dedicated to Maya Devi, the mother of Buddha, but is also renowned for the tower that was built in honor of Buddha thousands of years ago, by the Indian sage Atisha.
Head north, and you can stop off at the town of Pokhara on your way back to Kathmandu. Here, you can explore the beauty of the Himalayas to the north, as this is the gateway to the Annapurna Range, one of the most popular trekking regions in Nepal. You can even try out some of the trekking trails, such as the short hike to the Australian Camp at the base of Annapurna I.
Customize Your Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan tour
If you are thinking of taking a trip to Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan together, then you do not always have to follow the itineraries that are pre-set for your ease. If you are thinking of certain places to visit, and they are not included in the tour, then you have the option of customizing your tour to suit your needs. All you need to do is let your travel consultant know where you want to go, and we will be able to customize the itinerary to suit your requirements.
Conclusion
Traveling to Bhutan, Nepal, and Tibet together does depend on where you want to go and what you want to do to work out how long to spend in these amazing destinations. For the simplest tours 12-13 days is adequate, but if you want to get a little more in-depth, then you need to be thinking of a tour that encompasses between 17 and 25 days, or more if you want to explore further afield. So, work out what you want to do first, and then let us help you plan the trip for you.
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